Radiator protector and air-control device



L. D. POTTER.

RADIATOR PROTECTOR AND AIR CONTROL DEV ICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE '17, 1920.

1,407,21 mentea Feb.21,1922;

fii G UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

RADIATOR PROTECTOR AND AIR-CONTROL DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 21., 1922,-

Application fled June 17, 1920. Serial 1T0. ssarsa.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, LAUREUS DAY PO'ITER,

a citizen of .the United States, and a resident of Emmetsburg, in the county of Palo Alto and State of Iowa,.have invented a certain new and useful Radiator Protector and Air-Control Device, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a radiator protector and an air control device of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, whereby the amountof air which is permitted to pass through a radiator of the type ordinarily used on automobiles may be accurately controlled and regulated.

More particularly it is my object to provide such a device comprising a casing adapted to fit over the front of a radiator for covering the front thereof, which casing has a suitable opening, and to provide in connection with said casing means for closing the opening or any desired part thereof, whichmeans is easily controlled from the automobile.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which; V

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of an ordinary automobile equipped with a protector and air controldevice embodying my invention. s

Figure 2 shows a rear elevation of my device.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged, detail, sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 shows a rear elevation of my device part of the movable closure members being removed to better illustrate the mounting of one of said members.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the filling tube of an ordinary radiator.

My improved device comprises a front plate or casing member 11 of substantially the same general outline as the front of the radiator, which plate or casing member 1s provided. with a peripheral, rearwardly extending flange 12 designed to receive the ra diator, so that the radiator or at least'the forward portion thereof, is wholly received withln the casing consisting of the plate 11 and its flange 12.

The device may be connected with or fastened to the frame of the machine in any suitable way.

The plate 11 is provided with a large central opening 13, and for the opening 13 I provide the adjustable closure structure now to be described.

Spaced 'rearwardly from the plate 11 is an annular, flat ring 15 of considerably greater dlameter than the opening 13. The ring 15 1s providedwith a series of equi-distantly spaced radially elongated slots 16. The ring 15 is loosely mounted for rotation in guide brackets 17 extending rearwardly preferably from the plate 11, and having at their inner ends radially inwardly inclined flanges, as shown particularly in Figure 3.

Pivotallymounted by means of pins 18 on the rear surface of the plate 11 at regular intervals, spaced outwardly from the openmg 13 are the ends of successive segments 19. The other end of each segment 19 is pivot-ally and slidably'mounted on the ring 15 by means of a pin 20 secured to said segment 19 and extended through one of the slots 16.

My adjustable closure device is of the irisvalve type. The segments 19 are so arranged that by rotatirlg the .ring 15 in one direction the segments may be all moved outwardly to position near the outer portion of the opening 13, whereas when the ring 15 is rotated in another.direction, the segments 19 will be swung toward position for closing the opening 13.

The segments are shown in their partly closed in position in Figures 1 and 2, while one of the segments is shown in its fully closing position in Figure 4.

For imparting the desired rotation to the ring 15, I have mounted on said ring a curved rack bar 21. On the flange 12 at one side of the plate 11 is a bracket bearing 22, in which is rotatably'mounted a shaft 23. On the shaft 23 isa pinion 24 which projects through a suitable slot in the flange 12, and meshes with the curved rack bar 21.

The shaft 23 is extended by any suitable means or in any suitable way to position convenient of access from the drivers seat. It will be seen that the driver can control the adjustable closure structure from any suitable point, and can accurately regulate the size of the opening through which air may pass to the radiator;

In the summer time my improved radiator protector and air control device may be removed entirely if desired.

In the winter it will be noted that my casing is such as to protect the radiator around the edges and particularly adjacent to the lower portion thereof for thereby protecting the radiator at the points Where it is most likely to freeze.

It may be mentioned that the fan is ordinaril located almost directly behind the openlng 13 so that withithe device of this kind having the outer casing, and having the controllable closure device arranged almost in line with the fan, the air control is unusually accurate.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may reasonably be included within its scope.

I claim as my invention:

In a device of the class described, a casing adapted to receive and fit the front of a radiator, comprising a plate having a central opening and a peripheral flange extending around its edge, brackets extending away from said plate substantially parallel with said flange and within the casing, said brackets having inwardly extending fingersat their free ends, a hollow ring slidably mounted within said brackets and said fingers, said ring having a series of equi-distantly spaced radially elongated openings, a series of segments slidably and pivotally 'mounted on said ring at one end, the other end of each of said segments being pivotally secured to said plate, a curved toothed member on said plate, a bearing on said flange, a shaft journaled in said bearing, a gear fixed on said shaft projecting through said flange and meshing with said toothed member.

Des Moines, Iowa, March 29, 1920.

LAUREUS DAY POTTER. 

